London: Senior Fabric Developer — Lead Innovation & Materials

Burberry; City Of London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Burberry in London is seeking a Senior Fabric Developer to lead fabric development across multiple product categories, driving innovation and building strategic supplier partnerships to support creative direction.

You will lead and mentor a team of Fabric Developers and Assistants, collaborate with Design on prototypes, and ensure fabrics meet quality, performance, cost and margin targets while delivering craftsmanship and operational excellence.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in fabric R&D, testing, and finishes at garment level.
• Experience managing vendor relationships to meet creative and commercial requirements.
• Commercial awareness including budgets, costs and margins.
• Ability to balance creative ambition with quality, timing, and cost.
• Clear, collaborative communicator across cross-functional teams.
• Organised, responsive, and able to prioritise changing requirements and risks.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of new fabrics, finishes and technologies per direction and product needs.
• Partner with Design on development and prototype launches to translate concepts into fabrics meeting expectations.
• Own fabric development critical path, manage risks and drive issues to completion.
• Build relationships with vendors, issue briefs, understand capabilities and capacity.
• Deliver fabrics within quality, cost, and margin targets, ensuring functionality.
• Lead and nurture a team of Fabric Developers and Assistants, balancing priorities.

Skills

Fabric R&D

Vendor management

Budget management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Team leadership

Job description

Burberry in London is seeking a Senior Fabric Developer to lead fabric development across multiple product categories, driving innovation and building strategic supplier partnerships to support creative direction.

You will lead and mentor a team of Fabric Developers and Assistants, collaborate with Design on prototypes, and ensure fabrics meet quality, performance, cost and margin targets while delivering craftsmanship and operational excellence.